The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to settle sex abuse claims from more than 1,300 alleged victims dating back to the 1940s.
“I regret these incidents for everyone, from the bottom of my heart,” Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement. “My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered.”
The settlement brings the total amount paid out by the Archdiocese of Los Anegeles to settle sex abuse lawsuits to nearly $1.5 billion, following a $660 million settlement with about 500 alleged victims in 2007.
Officials say an agreement in principle has been reached to settle the remaining claims filed under Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily waived the statute of limitations for alleged victims to seek damages in sexual abuse claims, allowing a three-year period to breathe new life into old things. according to Archbishop Gomez’s statement.
“This is the largest child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese,” said a news release from the law firm representing the victims.
Archbishop Gomez approved the settlement and confirmed that the Archdiocese Administrative Office will bear financial responsibility.
“We have determined that the funding for this settlement will be drawn from reserves, investments and loans, along with other Archdiocese assets and payments to be made by religious orders and others named in the lawsuit,” the statement from Gomez. “No specific donations to parishes or schools or to archdiocese-wide collections and campaigns will be used to fund this settlement.”
Payments are expected to be made in 2025 and 2026.
In his letter, Gomez also promised that the church will remain vigilant to ensure that no one serving in ministry will harm a minor again.
Of the more than 3,000 remaining child sex abuse lawsuits filed in California under AB-218, 1,600 were filed in Northern California, 500 in San Diego County and 200 in Orange County, attorneys said. Several California dioceses have filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of the lawsuits.
“The enormous amount of this settlement reflects the amount of serious harm inflicted on vulnerable children and the decades of neglect, complicity and cover-up by the Archdiocese that allowed known serial killers to inflict this harm. I encourage other religious institutions within the Catholic Church to meet their responsibilities and be held accountable,” said the victims’ attorney, Morgan A. Stewart.
